Lighting

Livingetc's design guru Mark Garside answers your most frequently asked lighting questions.

How to make a lamp from crockery and china?

I recently saw a lamp made from old crockery and wondered whether it's feasible to make one from a china bowl I've found. I'd like to make a hole in the side to attach the light fitting. Is this possible and, if so, where can I have it done?
If you've seen one of Committee's Kebab lamps (gallop.co.uk), you'll know how simple and effective it can be to use found objects in this way. But you need to be careful not to use materials near the fitting that pose a fire risk. It sounds as if your bowl would be ok, but I'd use a low-energy bulb to reduce heat. As for the hole, you may need to do a DIY job with a diamond-tipped hole cutter as professionals tend to avoid these jobs due to the chance of breakages. If making it yourself seems too much of a risk, have a look at the fabulous and affordable lamps in the Tea range by Original BTC.

Can a ceiling shade work on a lamp base?

I've just bought a lamp base and have a ceiling shade that would be perfect with it. Is there an adaptor on the market that would make the ceiling fitting suitable for a lamp?
No. You could get the shade's wirework altered by a company such as A Shade Above, but it could be costly. However, anyone looking to reduce a European-sized fitting (such as those at Ikea), can buy an adaptor (45 to 29mm) on eBay.

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Factory-style metal kitchen lighting

We'd really like some old factory-style metal lighting for our kitchen, but are unsure how safe it is to buy something second hand and rewire it ourselves. Do you know whether anyone sells lights in this style that are already wired up?
It is worth noting that there can be hazards buying any old electrical items – many are not allowed to be sold second hand. But the kind of lighting you're describing is often easy to test, and a qualified electrician can replace the live parts with new fittings. Alternatively, find original lighting that's been re-wired at places like Trainspotters and SkinFlint Design. For good modern copies, try The French House or Holloways of Ludlow.

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Lighting a large oil painting

I've always had a contemporary-style home, but I plan to mix things up with a large oil painting (about 2m wide) that I recently inherited and would like to display in my living room. Can you advise me how best to light it, as it will be the main focus of the room.
You can get specialist downlighters that will bring out the original paint colours without causing any damage. Hogarth Lighting sells the gallery-style brass lights, but now also does modern LED lighting that may be just right for your space. The clever sizing gizmo on its website ensures you order the correct lamp, and the company's invisible wiring system (which can be painted or papered over) saves walls from ugly wires.

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Rewiring an anglepoise lamp

I have an old Anglepoise lamp from The Conran Shop I'd like to rewire with trendy red flex. I'd prefer fabric-covered flex to plastic, but can only find it in metallic, white and black. Do you know who might supply red?
95% Danish sells fabric-covered flex in 10 colours including red, £26 for 2.5m. For plastic cables, you could use a heat-shrink cable sleeving, which comes in a small range of colours, over a standard flex (see the RS website). Or for a new, eye-catching angle lamp with colourful matching flex, I love the FlowerPot table lamp VP4, £289, also from 95% Danish.

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Do you know the name/type of bulbs used on fairground carousels?

Do you know the name/type of bulbs used on fairground carousels? The high-street fashion chain All Saints also uses them for its shop signs. Any ideas where I could buy some?
They're a moulded plastic and referred to as Cabochon Lighting (a form of gemstone). All the manufacturers I've ever come across tend to be Italian, such as Imel Park and VSV. In the UK, talk to Remco Signs, which produces bespoke lighting for the amusement industry, and which may be able to knock up something fabulous for you, too.

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Any suggestions for a large statement pendant light?

We are in the process of building a contemporary house that has a spacious living area with a double-height ceiling. It's open plan, with a kitchen and dining area, and it's crying out for a large 'statement' pendant light that doesn't get lost in the space. I'm not keen on traditional chandeliers and the house is modern. Any suggestions? I don't want to spend more than £2,000.
I think the best lighting to fill this type of living space is something that's open, textural and experimental, rather than solid and heavy. Jan Pauwels has recently designed a few interesting wirework lighting constructions for Quasar. I'd also suggest you take a look at the delicate Universe and Citadel Composition lights, available from Cameron Peters.

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On the hunt for oversized wooden lattice-like lanterns

I saw some amazing huge wooden lattice-like lanterns above the escalators in Topshop on London's Oxford Street recently. I'd love some for my house – do you know where I can buy them?
The pendants you refer to are by New Zealander David Trubridge – many people already know his Body Raft chaise for Cappellini, which was inspired by a background in boatbuilding. His lighting, though, is far less widely available, so you need to specially order them in from places like Viaduct and Chaplins. Prices for the Koura light you liked are from around £1,500.

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Making a fabric pendant shade

When I redecorated my living room, I chose a Marimekko fabric for the curtains. I have some spare, and wondered whether it would be possible to make a pendant shade with it?
It's probably not worth fudging it yourself. Lightingworks.co.uk allows you to specify shade shape, covering and size to produce a bespoke shade in your chosen fabric for as little as £30. If you're set on doing it yourself, you can sandwich fabric between the clear layers of Le Klint's Undercover shade.

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Affordable track lighting systems

I really like the look of the track lighting systems you see in trendy shops, and I wanted to source an affordable option for my dining room and galley kitchen. Can you help?
I've found that Illuma, whose products you should be able to buy through trade electrical outlets such as Ryness, does some of the more reasonable track and spotlight combinations. Depending on what voltage lighting you want, there are some great ranges (like Rocket and Electrospot) to choose from that will give you the slick look you're after. Remember, it's best to get a qualified electrician to install these.

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Looking for inexpensive bubble lamp shades

I'm trying to source some bubble lamp shades similar to the ones in your April 2008 issue (p125). I'm looking for designs that are available to buy in the UK and that won't cost the earth.
Always keep an eye on the lighting departments of big stores such as John Lewis for high-street interpretations of your favourite designs. However, as your heart's set on those bubble lamps, rather than opt for watered-down versions, I think you're better spending a bit extra on these classic George Nelson pendant shades, produced by Modernica and available at atomicinteriors.co.uk, from £240.

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Advice on installing chandeliers in a period living room

I want to install chandeliers in our period living room, but my partner says we'd need additional support for their weight, which would mean taking up the floors in the rooms above. Can this be avoided with lightweight chandeliers?
However heavy the fixture, pulling up the upstairs floorboards isn't always necessary. Joists, which can be accessed from the ceiling side, are the most secure fixing point – use brackets, hook and bolt fittings to create your hanging point. So, don't limit yourself to a lightweight chandelier – find the design you want and, when buying it, take advice about adequate fitting methods. An experienced electrician should be able to fit, and test, the hanging points securely for you.

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On the hunt for Tom Dixon's pendant light

I've been searching for a stylish pendant light to complete our newly redecorated living room. I love the Tom Dixon one in the March issue of Livingetc (p33), but I'm struggling to track it down. Any ideas?
It's probably one of Tom Dixon's from when he used to be into welding up his own stuff in the Eighties. Remember the Pylon chair he did, made from steel wire? I reckon this is a similar construction with a varnished tissue paper – all handmade. If it's the look you're after, then you can always talk to A Shade Above about making up something similar.

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Decorative hanging light for a conservatory

I've been looking for a decorative hanging light to add some extra colour and atmosphere to a conservatory in a Victorian house. Any ideas?
Right now, my favourite lights are the handmade lanterns that originate in Morocco. The rough construction, perforations and coloured glass create an interesting ambience that works well in a period setting. Be careful not to go overboard with colours, though. For a decent selection of imported lamps, check out maroque.co.uk.

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Where can I find bespoke, fabric-covered lamp shades?

I'd like to get some bespoke, fabric-covered lamp shades made up. Do you know where I could find a specialist to do this?
I get a number of people who contact me when they find a fantastic old lamp shade and want to cover it with a bespoke fabric. Finding the skilled craftspeople is tricky, but not impossible. For more contemporary designs, I'd choose A Shade Above.

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The best fittings for ambient wall lighting

You've inspired me to ditch my living room ceiling pendant and go for ambient wall lighting. The ceiling is white and the walls are an ochre yellow. What kind of fittings would you suggest we use?
To create washes of reflected light off walls, floors and ceilings, avoid lighting where the light alone is the focus. Plaster up/down lighters are a good option, as you can paint them to blend into the walls (plaster will take any paint). Try John Cullen Lighting for an excellent selection of architectural plaster lights, from £100. Alternatively, a flexible option is to use angled lamps, which mean you can quickly change the light focus of the room.

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Where can I find large circular architectural ceiling lamps?

Where can we find large circular architectural ceiling lamps? You see them in lots of modern developments, and they make the corridors look very bright and clean. The only models we can find are too small.
It sounds like a Tamlite model called Elegance. It's a lovely, simple, shallow diffuser that you can get in a range of sizes and internal bulb configurations, up to 525mm diameter. It costs around £90 to £120 per unit. Buy via City Electrical Factors, and see at tamlite.co.uk/product_details.asp?product=276.

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Sourcing simply-designed light switches and plug sockets

When I stayed in the Q! Hotel in Berlin this summer I fell in love with the simple design of the light switches and plug sockets. Do you know where I can source these sockets, and if they're compatible with British wiring?
I had a bit of a hunt, and the closest match I've found is the Mosaic range from Legrand. Look at the Mosaic 3 Piece on the online catalogue at legrand.co.uk. It's a commercial item, but is frequently used in the domestic market. It's now available with UK sockets, plus various fascia finishes and an array of specialist fittings. Your electrician can buy it through electrical wholesalers, such as Edmundson Electrical.

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Hanging lampshade for the dining room

We'd love for you to give us some advice on finding an attractive hanging lampshade for our dining room, where we spend most of our time. The room has taupe-coloured walls and features a large, rectangular Victorian table and chairs that we have painted charcoal grey. Since we redecorated, lighting is the only thing we can't decide on. We have been living with a bare bulb for almost two months! Please help.

With the colour scheme you've gone for, it seems appropriate to keep the lighting more moody and focused over the centre of the activity, namely the table. Moooi produces a fabulous range of large shades by Piet Boon, one of which (Square Boon) would fit the scene perfectly. It's available in a range of monotones, and had a simple white fabric diffuser so you don't see the lightbulb. It's available from Nest and costs approximately £600.

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Wall-mounted bedroom lights

I'm looking for wall-mounted bedroom lights, or flexiarm LED desk lights for reading in bed. You often find them in contemporary hotels, and they're usually fixed to the side of the headboard, so you have the choice of putting on the main lamp or switching to the flexiarm. I've tried the internet but had no luck, what do you suggest?

They're not widely available yet, but I'm sure many people reading this, like myself, would love to get hold of one! There are a few LED desk and picture lamps that can be mounted by the bed. They cost around £40 each from high-street stores, but I'd recommend taking a look at the sleek reading lights from John Cullen. These have a much nicer tone to read by than the usual arctic white of most LEDs and the flexiarm is far more robust and won't droop like they do on cheaper models. An alternative supplier is The Lighting Superstore who do a good-value wall-mountable model for under £40.

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Light art

I've just been to see American artist Dan Flavin's amazing light sculptures at the Hayward Gallery and want to create my own version. There's a large ceiling in my stairwell where I'd like to hang it, but I need some advice on how to make it and where to get coloured lights.

Encapsulite produces about 200 colours of filter sleeves to slip over fluoro tubes, as well as a range of Stick-Lites which are more flexible as they don't have a conventional batten fitting. Make sure any design has a sturdy frame and strong fixings, and use an electrician to wire up and install it. Keep things simple for stunning results.

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Chinese lanterns

Our outside space consists of a covered balcony area. It could do with a bit of colour and we fancied getting some traditional Chinese lanterns to hang up. The problem is, we've looked high and low, but have drawn a complete blank. Do you know of any shops or mail-order companies that stock them?

Cox & Cox sells colourful Chinese paper lanterns in packs of 12. If you're after something a little more hard-wearing, Graham & Green has some fantastic fabric and wire ones, which will probably last much longer than the paper ones. They're available by post, too, so get ordering.

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